How to Book a Motivational Speaker
How to book a motivational speaker is a question many event organisers ask when planning a leadership conference, company away day, or training session. The right speaker can transform your event from good to unforgettable.
This guide walks you through each step so you can book with confidence.
1. Define Your Event Goals
Start by deciding what you want to achieve. Do you want to inspire change, boost team morale, or build leadership skills? Being clear on your goals will help you choose a speaker who matches your vision. For example, a leadership-focused speaker can inspire managers, while a resilience expert can motivate teams through change.
2. Set Your Budget
Motivational speaker fees vary. They depend on the speaker’s experience, profile, and travel requirements. Leadership specialists may charge more due to their niche expertise. Setting your budget early makes it easier to shortlist the right people.
3. Search by Specialism and Style
Look for speakers with proven success in leadership, team-building, or cultural change. Read their profiles and watch video clips. Decide whether you want an interactive, humorous, or thought-provoking delivery. When you know how to book a motivational speaker, matching style to audience is just as important as choosing the topic.
4. Work with a Trusted Speaker Bureau
A bureau like Inspirational Speakers takes the hard work out of your search. We match you with speakers who fit your goals, handle all the logistics, and make the process stress-free. Our team knows which speakers connect best with different audiences.
5. Shortlist and Review
Once you have a shortlist, watch each speaker’s showreel and read their testimonials. Ask your bureau to check availability and hold potential dates. You can even arrange a short call to see if the chemistry feels right.
6. Confirm the Booking
When you’ve chosen your speaker, your bureau will confirm contracts, technical requirements, and liaise with the venue. By following these steps, you’ll know exactly how to book a motivational speaker and be ready to look forward to an engaging, impactful event.
Need help finding the perfect motivational speaker?
The team at Inspirational Speakers is here to guide you from first idea to final applause. Whether you’re still deciding how to book a motivational speaker or already have someone in mind, we make the process simple and enjoyable.
Frequently Asked Questions
We recommend at least 2–3 months ahead, especially for high-demand speakers. For larger events, six months or more gives you the best choice.
Absolutely. Many of our speakers deliver engaging online keynotes and workshops tailored to remote teams.
Consider your event goals, audience size, industry, and the tone you’re aiming for. A speaker bureau can guide you to the perfect match.
There are many ways you can book a speaker, but using a speaker bureau or agency is perhaps the most effective way.
This is because we work with you in the lead up to your event to ensure the best possible speaker and handle any and all requirements that come with the booking.
We are paid a commission by our speakers when we book them, so there is no fee to our clients.
Essentially, a bureaus role is to listen to your needs, and create a customized proposal for your event, take care of all the details including travel arrangements, pre-event calls, logistics and more.
We represent a diverse range of speakers, including Motivational & Inspirational Speakers, Business & Leadership Experts, Industry Professionals, Athletes & Celebrities, Thought Leaders & Innovators, Wellbeing & Mental Health Advocates
The speaker’s fee typically includes their speaking time, briefing call and preparation. Any necessary travel and accommodation expenses will be discussed prior to securing the booking and we will provide a clear breakdown of what’s included when you book.
The main bookings we get asked for is for speakers to deliver an keynote talk.
However lots of clients also ask for workshops/interactive sessions, hosting and facilitating events, panel and fireside chats, award evenings and anything else that may be required to make your event one to remember.
While many of our speakers are incredibly inspirational, we offer a much wider range – from leadership experts, mental health advocates and adventurers, to entrepreneurs, change-makers and elite athletes. Whether you’re looking to inspire, educate or provoke thought, we’ve got someone for you.
Not at all – we’re based in the UK but regularly support international clients and events. If you’re planning something overseas or hybrid, we can absolutely help.
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